Argento Soma
| Argento Soma | |
 Japanese cover for the first DVD volume of Argento Soma featuring the character Ryu Soma. | |
| アルジェントソーマ (Arujento Sōma) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure, Mecha, Military |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Kazuyoshi Katayama |
| Produced by | Hiroyuki Birukawa Shinichiro Kobayashi Keiichi Matsumura |
| Written by | Hiroshi Yamaguchi Hiroaki Kitajima Toru Nozaki Shin Yoshida |
| Music by | Katsuhisa Hattori |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | October 6, 2000 – March 22, 2001 |
| Episodes | 25 |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Kazuyoshi Katayama |
| Written by | Hiroaki Kitajima |
| Music by | Katsuhisa Hattori |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | February 21, 2002 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
Argento Soma (アルジェント ソーマ, Arujento Sōma) is a 25-episode anime TV series that aired on TV Tokyo from October 6, 2000, to March 22, 2001, with the final episode, "Alone and by myself" (孤独と孤独, Kodoku to kodoku), releasing direct-to-video.
The anime was originally licensed by Bandai Entertainment in North America before going out of print in 2012. Following the 2012 closure of Bandai Entertainment, Sunrise announced at Otakon 2013, that Sentai Filmworks has rescued Argento Soma, along with a handful of other former BEI titles.[1]
In Japan, the title is stylized as ΑΠΗΕΝΤΟ ΣΟΜΑ; this is a misspelling of the Greek title, which is correctly spelled as ΑΡΓΈΝΤΟ ΣΏΜΑ, which means "The Silver Body".
Plot[edit]
In an effort to learn more about the metallic aliens that have been plaguing the planet for the past years, Dr. Noguchi and his assistant Maki Agata try to bring to life a construct pieced together from the destroyed aliens. They recruit Takuto Kaneshiro, Maki's boyfriend at the college they both attend, into this project because of his talent for metallurgy. While Takuto is unhappy with Maki keeping secrets from him again, he reluctantly helps with the project. However, in the process of reviving the monster that Dr. Noguchi has aptly called Frank (short for Frankenstein's monster), unidentified soldiers invade the MORGUE facility. They cut the power, leading to a power surge which violently brings Frank to life and causes an explosion that kills everyone, including Dr. Noguchi and Maki, in the facility, except Takuto.
"Mr. X" visits the scarred (emotionally and physically) Takuto in the hospital, and offers him a chance to get his vengeance on the monster he blames for killing Maki and destroying his life. Months later Lt. Ryu Soma is reborn from the ashes of Takuto's soul, as a military pilot who joins FUNERAL. This is the organization which deals with the attacking aliens, and has also recaptured Frank (who escaped after the explosion at MORGUE).
It quickly becomes clear that Ryu knows how to operate FUNERAL's SARGs. Suspicions arises from Dan as Ryu has more in his background than meets the eyes.
It quickly becomes clear that Frank has become the best weapon FUNERAL has to defend against the aliens, which leaves Ryu torn between revenge and the desire to protect his comrades. Further complicating the picture, the only person who can communicate with Frank is a young girl named Hattie (Harriet), who bears a striking resemblance to Ryu/Takuto's lost love Maki. As it becomes apparent that Frank is more than a simple monster, Ryu and his FUNERAL comrades have to come to terms with questions of human identity, grief, and loss.
Cast[edit]
Japanese cast[edit]
- Houko Kuwashima as Harriet "Hattie" Bartholomew/Maki Agata
- Sōichirō Hoshi as Takuto Kaneshiro/Ryu Soma
- Jouji Nakata as Michael Heartland
- Kikuko Inoue as Guinevere Green
- Sayuri as Lana Ines
- Takehito Koyasu as Dan Simmonds
- Yūji Takada as Frank, Yuri Leonov, Defense Official, Henry Harris
- Yui Horie as Sue Harris
- Mitsuaki Madono as the Sheriff
English cast[edit]
- Stephen Apostolina - Army Official B
- Beau Billingslea - Captain Michael Heartland
- Richard Cansino - Mr. X (or Edward Lawrence)
- Dorothy Elias-Fahn - Maki Agata
- Lynn Fischer - P.A., Kroka Leonov
- Sandy Fox - Harriet 'Hattie' Bartholomew
- Crispin Freeman - Morgue Military Official, First Lt. Dan Simmons
- Steve Kramer - Funeral Board, Army Official A, Astronomer, Cook
- Lex Lang - Frank
- Wendee Lee - Joan
- Dave Mallow - Bird House Operator, Guard, Doctor, Defense Man B, Base Guard, Ulysses Transmission, Ground Control, Additional Voices
- Michael McConnohie - Funeral Unit Commander, Dignitary A, General
- Mary Elizabeth McGlynn - Countdown Announcement, Stacey, News Anchor, Apartment Super, Scarlet, Auntie
- Lara Jill Miller - Second Lt. Sue Harris
- Tony Oliver - Gate Guard, Border Patrol Pilot B, Dr. Takahashi, Air Force Official B
- Paul St. Peter - Morgue Officer
- Tony Pope - Official
- Simon Prescott - Air Force Official A, Scientist A
- Jamieson Price - Base Alert, Funeral Board, Government Man, Colonel Kilgore, Control Tower
- Derek Stephen Prince - Lab Assistant B
- Michelle Ruff - Narrator, Reporter, Funeral Operator, Nurse (voice: English version)
- Philece Sampler - Ai, Elaine Symond, Secretary (voice: English version)
- Melodee Spevack - Commander Lana Ines
- Steve Staley - Takuto Kaneshiro/Second Lt. Ryu Soma
- Doug Stone - Dr. Ernest Noguchi
- Julie Ann Taylor - Joan #2, Amian
- Paula Mattiloi Walker - First Lt Guinevere Green
- Dave Wittenberg - Sheriff
- Tom Wyner - UN Officer, Grandpa
Episode list[edit]
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rebirth and Death" "Saisei to Shi to" (Japanese: 再生と死と) | October 5, 2000 |
| 2 | "Death and the Maiden" "Shi to Shōjo to" (Japanese: 死と少女と) | October 12, 2000 |
| 3 | "The Maiden and the Meeting" "Shōjo to Deai to" (Japanese: 少女と出会いと) | October 19, 2000 |
| 4 | "The Meeting and Hatred" "Deai to Zōo to" (Japanese: 出会いと憎悪と) | October 26, 2000 |
| 5 | "Hatred and War" "Zōo to Arasoi to" (Japanese: 憎悪と争いと) | November 2, 2000 |
| 6 | "War and Escape" "Arasoi to Tōhi to" (Japanese: 争いと逃避と) | November 9, 2000 |
| 7 | "Escape and Memories" "Tōhi to Tsuioku to" (Japanese: 逃避と追憶と) | November 16, 2000 |
| 8 | "Memories and Solitude" "Tsuioku to Kodoku to" (Japanese: 追憶と孤独と) | November 23, 2000 |
| 9 | "Solitude and Sadness" "Kodoku to Ai to" (Japanese: 孤独と哀と) | November 30, 2000 |
| 10 | "Sadness and Malice" "Ai to Satsui to" (Japanese: 哀と殺意と) | December 7, 2000 |
| 11 | "Malice and Betrayal" "Saitsui to Uragiri to" (Japanese: 殺意と裏切りと) | December 14, 2000 |
| 12 | "Betrayal and Despair" "Uragiri to Zetsubō to" (Japanese: 裏切りと絶望と) | October 12, 2004 |
| 13 | "Despair and Hope" "Zetsubou to Kibō to" (Japanese: 絶望と希望と) | October 12, 2004 |
| 14 | "Hope and Confusion" "Kibō to Konton to" (Japanese: 希望と混沌と) | January 11, 2001 |
| 15 | "Confusion and Conflict" "Konton to Kattō to" (Japanese: 混沌と葛藤と) | January 18, 2001 |
| 16 | "Conflict and Decisions" "Kattō to Ketsui to" (Japanese: 葛藤と決意と) | January 25, 2001 |
| 17 | "Decisions and the Past" "Ketsui to Kako to" (Japanese: 決意と過去と) | February 1, 2001 |
| 18 | "The Past and Crimes" "Kako to Daizai to" (Japanese: 過去と大罪と) | November 19, 2000 |
| 19 | "Crimes and Punishments" "Daizai to Imashime to" (Japanese: 大罪と戒めと) | November 19, 2000 |
| 20 | "Punishments and Awakening" "Imashime to Kakusei to" (Japanese: 戒めと覚醒と) | February 22, 2001 |
| 21 | "Awakening and Truth" "Kakusei to Shinjitsu to" (Japanese: 覚醒と真実と) | March 1, 2001 |
| 22 | "Truth and Destruction" "Shinjitsu to Hametsu to" (Japanese: 真実と破滅と) | March 8, 2001 |
| 23 | "Destruction and Courage" "Hametsu to Yūki to" (Japanese: 破滅と勇気と) | March 15, 2001 |
| 24 | "Courage and Love" "Yūki to Ai to" (Japanese: 勇気と愛と) | March 22, 2001 |
| 25 | "Love and Rebirth" "Ai to Saisei to" (Japanese: 愛と再生と) | March 29, 2001 |
| OVA | "Alone and By Myself" "Kodoku to Kodoku" (Japanese: 孤独と孤独) | February 21, 2002 |
Music[edit]
OP Single - Silent Wind[edit]
| "Argento Soma - Silent Wind" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Eri Sugai | |
| Released | Nov 22, 2000 |
| Genre | Anime |
| Label | Victor Entertainment |
| Composer(s) | Katsuhisa Hattori |
| Lyricist(s) | Kitagawa Keiko |
The single album to the opening song
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Silent Wind" | 3:40 |
| 2. | "Silent Wind (TV Version)" | 1:40 |
| 3. | "Silent Wind (KH-R Heavy Industrial Mix)" | 5:32 |
| 4. | "Silent Wind (Original Karaoke)" | 3:39 |
Original Soundtrack I[edit]
| Argento Soma - Original Soundtrack I | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album | |
| Released | Dec 16, 2000 |
| Genre | Anime |
| Label | Victor Entertainment |
First OST Album
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fatal one : Shukumei no hito" | |
| 2. | "Silent Wind (TV Ver.)" | |
| 3. | "a wonderful world (Instrumental Ver.)" | |
| 4. | "Fragile memory" | |
| 5. | "kusari ni tsunagareta tamashii" | |
| 6. | "Profiling" | |
| 7. | "Flying commander" | |
| 8. | "Departure" | |
| 9. | "Flight from confusion" | |
| 10. | "kindan no sasayaki" | |
| 11. | "Immortal love" | |
| 12. | "samayou yousei" | |
| 13. | "kyoui no mukou ni" | |
| 14. | "kanashiki chikara" | |
| 15. | "Silent Wind (Instrumental Ver.)" | |
| 16. | "a wonderful world (English Ver.)" | |
| 17. | "Strained relation" | |
| 18. | "Fumble around" | |
| 19. | "yami kara no shoutaijou" | |
| 20. | "yume, kuchihatete" | |
| 21. | "Horizon (Instrumental Ver.)" | |
| 22. | "Horizon (TV Ver.)" |
Original Soundtrack II[edit]
| Argento Soma - Original Soundtrack II | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album | |
| Released | Mar 03, 2001 |
| Genre | Anime |
| Label | Victor Entertainment |
Second OST Album
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Silent Wind (full version)" | |
| 2. | "Horizon (full version)" | |
| 3. | "Behind the Decision" | |
| 4. | "SARG" | |
| 5. | "Primary Tactics" | |
| 6. | "Kizu" | |
| 7. | "Turning Point" | |
| 8. | "Silent Wind (arranged piano solo ver.)" | |
| 9. | "Shizukanaru Gyakusatsu" | |
| 10. | "Mugibatake wo Wataru Kaze" | |
| 11. | "Subarashiki Wagaya e" | |
| 12. | "The Astronauts" | |
| 13. | "Oritatta Unmei" | |
| 14. | "Chaotic Development" | |
| 15. | "Todokanai Kotoba" | |
| 16. | "Silent Wind (piano solo)" | |
| 17. | "A Wonderful World (orchestra version)" | |
| 18. | "Kakusaku" | |
| 19. | "Dark Organization" | |
| 20. | "Inbou to Fuan to" | |
| 21. | "Unknown" | |
| 22. | "Muku no Kokoro - Hattie" | |
| 23. | "Silent Wind (acoustic version)" | |
| 24. | "Silent Wind (orchestra version)" |
Image Album - "if" For the Future Lovers[edit]
| "if" For the Future Lovers | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artist | |
| Released | 2001 |
| Genre | Anime |
| Label | Victor Entertainment |
Contains songs not in the main soundtrack.
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Prologue" | Various | 1:21 |
| 2. | "For the future Lovers" | Kuwashima Houko | 4:35 |
| 3. | "Wonderful World (KH-R"H0213 EX" MIX)" | Kuwashima Houko | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Wonderful World (KH-R"H0213 EX" MIX)" | Hoshi Souichirou | 1:33 |
| 5. | "Silent Wind" | Kuwashima Houko | 3:41 |
| 6. | "Kaigara no Yume" | Kuwashima Houko | 2:02 |
| 7. | "Argent Soma (KH-R "SPR4 ULTIMATE MIX")" | DJ K. HASEGAWA | 7:19 |
| 8. | "Hoshi no Umi E" | Various | 0:49 |
| 9. | "Kowaremono - Fragile" | Kuwashima Houko | 2:18 |
| 10. | "Pilgrimage No.3" | Katsuhisa Hattori | 5:02 |
| 11. | "Epilogue" | Various | 1:40 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Sentai Filmworks Adds Sacred Seven, The Big O, Kurokami, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
External links[edit]
- Argento Soma (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Argento Soma at IMDb
